Mike Modano: Retiring Would Be A Fitting End to an Already Great Career

Long-time Dallas Star, Mike Modano, was very “disappointed” that he won’t be in Dallas anymore, the franchise he played for his entire career. Dallas thought it was time to move on, and for Modano to move on as well.

But to where?

In recent interviews, after the Stars announced they would not be resigning Modano, Modano says that he still wants and thinks he can play for a NHL team. The 40-year-old center isn’t getting any younger, casting doubt on whether he can take the brutality of another full regular season.

My advice for the man would be to retire. Modano is already an American hockey legend. He holds records for the most goals scored by an American-born player (557), most points by an American-born player(1,359), most playoff points by an American-born player in a career (145), and the most games played by an American-born forward (1,459).

Modano also holds 15 franchise records. They include games played, power play goals, goals, shorthanded goals, assists, even strength goals, points, game-winning goals, overtime goals, power play assists, penalty shots attempted, shots, goals in a season by a center, highest plus/minus in a season, and most hat tricks in a season.

Retiring now would cement Modano’s already huge reputation and the amount of respect he has with many NHL fans around the world, and it would also prevent him from somewhat losing some of that respect and reputation by playing a few more, non-productive seasons.

Everyone loved Ken Griffey, but the last few years were painful to watch, and it made many people happy that he choose to retire, knowing he couldn’t play at this level anymore. Modano can save himself from those last few years by retiring now. It would not be a bitter retirement. He’d have all the love and praise from the franchise he loves and that loves him so much as well.

If Modano decides not to retire, there is no doubt he will get offers. As I am writing this, Espndallas.com reports Modano was contacted by the Detroit Red Wings as well as some other teams. All is still up in the air, but there are some teams that I think Modano could most likely head to.

One of those teams being the St. Louis Blues. Former Stars GM Doug Armstrong is in the St. Louis organization. It’s not uncommon for players to head somewhere a former coach, or in this case, GM is. St. Louis, a young up-and-coming team, would highly benefit from a veteran like Modano.

Another intriguing team would be Phoenix, where former Stars’s coach Dave Tippett is. It’s another case of going where a former coach or GM is.

Phoenix surprised many teams and fans last postseason, playing extremely well against the Red Wings, almost beating the Wings. The team defiantly has talent. Could Modano want another shot at a Stanley Cup with a different team? His knowledge would definitely help the young players on Phoenix.